Magnolia seeks 2nd semis slot vs Hapee

Magnolia Purewater hopes to start the new year right despite a badly-depleted lineup as it shoots for the second outright semis berth against Hapee Toothpaste as action in the PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup resumes today at the San Beda College gym.

With a second-best 7-2 win-loss record, the Wizards need only to beat the Complete Protectors in their 2 p.m. encounter to clinch the second automatic semis berth.

But they will have to get the job done without Neil Pascual, Khasim Mirza and JP Alcaraz, who are sidelined with various injuries.

Pascual, a former Mapua standout, sustained a right arm injury after figuring in a car accident last Friday. Mirza, one of the players acquired by the team from UST, had a fractured ankle and is out for the conference while Alcaraz had a bruised shoulder.

Harbour Centre, which secured the first semis seat as early as Dec. 20, clash with Burger King at 4 p.m., seeking its ninth win in 10 games.

The Batang Pier got a free ride to the semis after Pharex shocked Hapee, 88-76, two weeks ago. With an 8-1 record, Harbour Centre will be playing in the semis for the sixth straight time since joining the league in late 2004.

Though they’re coming off a tough tune-up game against the tall Singapore Slingers squad in Singapore last Sunday, the Batang Pier remain wary of the Stunners, whom they beat, 83-70, in the first round.

“We have to play smart against them,” said Harbour coach Jorge Gallent who is expected to rely again on veterans Reed Juntilla, Jerwin Gaco, Boyet Bautista, Benedict Fernandez and Rico Maierhofer and rookies PJ Barua, JR Cawaling and Mark Barroca.

Abby Santos, Marcy Arellano, Nestor David and San Beda ace Ogie Menor will be the men to watch for the Stunners.

With former Ateneo star Chris Tiu still not available to play for Hapee, former UAAP MVP winner Jervy Cruz will have to work doubly hard to help the team improve its 4-5 record.

According to Hapee manager Bernard Yang, Tiu is still in the US for an extended vacation but he hopes that the former UAAP star will arrive in time for the quarterfinals.

“We hope that he will arrive this week so that he can join the team. We need somebody to spark the team,” said Yang.